Laura Mitchell opened Curves for Women in Silverdale in March of 2002. She figured she would probably start with about 30 women and hoped to have 90 by the end of the year. Well, it has been three years now, and she’s got some 1,000 members in Silverdale. Further, within that same year, she opened Curves outlets in Port Orchard and Belfair. Between the three sites, there are around 2,500 members.

Curves, which is a franchise, has 16 stations for a full workout. Women are advised to attend three times per week for 30 minutes. Coming in, the member begins at any vacant station, rotating every 30 seconds, ending with a brief stretching time.

The 30-minute strength and aerobic workout is equivalent to an hour and a half, Laura says, because the machines offer resistance to the muscles.

Curves for Women also has a weight loss program, with a six-week class, which will get you well on the road to losing, Laura says.

“People are either calorie counters or carb counters, or both,” she continues. The program helps women lose weight their way, with a diet plan, recipes and protein shakes, but they do not sell food.

“You are in charge of you,” Laura is fond of saying. “We’re there to assist you in meeting your goal.” In fact, she wants people to know they can stray occasionally, and not be a failure. They help women find the courage to change every day.

Laura came into the business after dreaming of this very idea when she was a student at Olympic College. However, she went on to get a degree from the University of Washington and became a social worker and counselor.

Laura is a Christian, she says, and she felt that God was telling her that He had something new for her to do. She obeyed that prompting and checked out this business opportunity. She went to Waco, Texas for the Curves training and has continued in her lifelong desire to make women’s lives happier and healthier.

She has found the dramatic change in the direction of her professional life to be delightful and interesting. “Everything was new and different. It is a wonderful thing!”

In addition to the three Curves sites, she owns a coffee house and deli in Port Orchard called Java Joy, which also serves diet foods.
Laura currently employs 20 people, and has plans in the works now to expand her businesses.

She believes in treating each individual as the special person they are.
“I give glory to God for all my success,” she says.